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Remembering the Victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

The hideous massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary claimed the lives of 20 young students and six adults. The victims were siblings and grandchildren, educators and mentors. As America mourns their deaths, details emerge of the lives lost in the tragedy

The hideous massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary claimed the lives of 20 young students and six adults. The victims were siblings and grandchildren, educators and mentors. As America mourns their deaths, more information is coming out about those lost in the tragedy.

Charlotte Bacon, 6

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Charlotte Bacon’s grandmother Irene Hagen described her as a “sweet, outgoing, energetic little girl with beautiful red, curly hair,” reports WCCO TV. Charlotte loved school and dresses, and on the day of the shooting, she proudly left for school in a new pink dress and boots. It was an outfit intended for the holidays, but Charlotte convinced her mom JoAnn to let her wear her new clothes. “She was going to go some places in this world,” her uncle John Hagen toldNewsday. “This little girl could light up the room for anyone.” Her older brother Guy was also at the school at the time of the shooting but was not hurt.

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Daniel Barden, 7

According to Daniel Barden’s family, he “embodied everything that is wholesome and innocent in the world,” CNN reports. He loved adventure and pursued happiness fearlessly. He enjoyed soccer, swimming and music — even forming a band with his siblings. Daniel was “always smiling, unfailingly polite, incredibly affectionate, fair and so thoughtful toward others, imaginative in play, both intelligent and articulate in conversation: in all, a constant source of laughter and joy,” his parents said in a statement.

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Rachel D’Avino, 29

Rachel D’Avino’s best friend and would-have-been fiancé Anthony J. Cerritelli was planning to propose to her on Christmas Eve, as he had recently asked her parents for permission to marry her, according to her obituary on the website of Munson-Lovetere Funeral Homes. D’Avino was working toward her doctorate degree from the University of St. Joseph of Hartford, Conn. “Her presence and tremendous smile brightened any room she entered,” reads her obituary. She loved karate, cooking, animals, baking and photography but her foremost passion was her work in behavioral therapy with children with autism.

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Olivia Engel, 6

Olivia Engel, whose favorite colors were purple and pink, would say grace for the family before dinner every night, reports the New Haven Register. Engel did well in reading and math at school, and she also took classes in art, swimming, ballet and hip-hop. Her favorite toy was a stuffed lamb. “I cannot stop thinking about her beautiful smile, her sweet voice and her infectious laugh,” wrote Julie Guastello Pokrinchak on a Facebook page set up by her family.

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Josephine Gay, 7

Josephine Gay had celebrated her seventh birthday just three days before the massacre. She loved the color purple, and to honor her memory, residents in a new subdivision near Sandy Hook Elementary School hung purple balloons on mailboxes and gates, the Wall Street Journalreports.

Dawn Hochsprung, 47, school principal

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Dawn Hochsprung, the school’s principal, reportedly tried to intervene when the shooter barged into Sandy Hook Elementary. Some reports claim the encounter, which led to her being fatally shot, was heard over the school intercom. It’s unclear whether Hochsprung turned the intercom’s switch on deliberately, but her last alleged act may have led to many lives being saved. Hochsprung had recently installed a new security system at Sandy Hook, requiring all visitors to ring the doorbell at the front entrance after the school doors locked at 9:30 a.m.

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Dylan Hockley, 6

Garlic bread, video games and bouncing on the family trampoline with his older brother Jake were some of Dylan Hockley’s favorite things, his grandmother Theresa Moretti told the Boston Herald. Dylan “had the most mischievous little grin,” said Moretti. “To know him was to love him.”

Madeleine Hsu, 6

Madeleine Hsu — also known as Maddy — was described by a neighbor as “very upbeat and kind” and “a sweet, beautiful little girl.” She often wore bright, flowery dresses.

Catherine Hubbard, 6

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Catherine Hubbard was a 6-year-old first-grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Her parents released a statement thanking police and firemen and their close-knit community for their support after a family friend turned away reporters from their house. “We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter Catherine Violet, and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy,” the statement said. “We ask that you continue to pray for us and the other families who have experienced loss in this tragedy.”

Chase Kowalski, 7

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Chase Kowalski was a lively, sunny 7-year-old that charmed his neighbors with his smile and energy. He was an energetic child that had recently run a triathlon, loved baseball, was in the Cub Scouts, looked forward to the kids’ workshop at the local Home Depot and said he wanted his teeth back for Christmas. Longtime neighbor Suzanne Baumann told the Wall Street Journal that she often saw the beloved boy riding an all-terrain vehicle around the yard and added that Chase was consistently friendly. He always said hello,” she said. “He was very receptive to people. He was a beautiful child, an amazing child.”

“We are thankful to the Lord for giving us seven years with our beautiful, loving son. It is with heavy hearts that we return him,” his family said in an obituary.

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Jesse Lewis, 6

Jesse Lewis was one of the 6-year-olds in Victoria Soto’s class who didn’t survive, despite her efforts to protect her students. He was described as an energetic boy who, like many of his classmates, was looking forward to the upcoming holidays. He was particularly excited to go to school on Friday, because they had plans to make gingerbread houses. His father Neil Heslin told the New York Post that he loved math and horseback riding.

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Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Ana Marquez-Greene moved from Canada to Connecticut with her family two months ago. Family and friends have described her as a lively child who loved music — much like her father, saxophonist Jimmy Greene, who wrote on Facebook that he was attempting to “work through this nightmare.”

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James Mattioli, 6

James Mattioli’s family fondly remembers a 6-year-old with a personality as bold as his Mohawk hairstyle. James loved the outdoors — “I need to go outside, Mom. I need fresh air,” he would often say, according to WKTV. His favorite activities were swimming “like a fish,” riding his bike, playing iPad games, wearing an Angry Birds T-shirt and singing so often that he once asked when he would get a chance to sing onstage. He was a chatty, hungry (for food and for life), playful child who fiercely loved his older sister. He wanted to do everything she could, his parents said in an obituary. “They were the best of friends, going to school together, playing games together and making endless drawings and crafts together.” The boy, whose family called “J,” will be incredibly missed, they continued.

Grace McDonnell, 7

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Grace McDonnell was a “girly girl” who loved wearing pink and playing dress-up in jewelry, explained her grandmother Mary Ann McDonnell. The 7-year-old adored her pet dog named Puddin’ and enjoyed art projects, soccer and gymnastics. “A little baby like that — I just hope she didn’t suffer,” said her grandmother.

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Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Anne Marie Murphy worked as an aide at Sandy Hook, where she taught art and special education. It appears that she died while attempting to shield her students from the gunfire, as her body was found covering a group of children. “She was a sweetheart, and she loved Sandy Hook,” a family friend told the Wall Street Journal. Murphy is survived by her husband and four children.

Emilie Parker, 6

REUTERS / Emilie Parker Memorial Fund

“My daughter Emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving support to all the victims because that’s the kind of kid she is,” said father Robbie Parker in a statement. He added that she was an artist, always carrying around her pencils and markers to draw pictures or make cards for people.

Facebook / Handout / Reuters

Jack Pinto, 6

Six-year-old Jack Pinto was known for his love of all things sports — especially his favorite football player, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants — so much so that Jack’s parents are considering burying him in his No. 80 Giants jersey. When the star receiver learned that Jack had idolized him, he paid a tribute to the young victim by inscribing “R.I.P. Jack Pinto” and “Jack Pinto, My Hero” on his cleats for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. On his glove, he wrote, “Jack Pinto. This one is 4 U!” Cruz plans to visit Newtown, Conn., next week to present the Pinto family with the game-day gear that comprised the touching tribute to their son.

Family Photo / AP

Noah Pozner, 6

Noah Pozner’s aunt Victoria Haller told CNN that “he had a huge heart … and was so much fun, a little bit rambunctious, lots of spirit.” He also loved playing with his siblings and cousins. Pozner’s twin sister was in another classroom and survived the attack.

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Caroline Previdi, 6

Six-year-old Caroline Previdi loved to share smiles and laughter with friends and family — a trait that earned her the nickname “Silly Caroline,” the Wall Street Journalreports. A year ago, she was breaking open her piggy bank to put her money toward buying gifts for less fortunate children, according toPeople. Caroline’s older brother also attended Sandy Hook, but he safely escaped the rampage. Her grandfather described her as a “bouncy kid” who enjoyed drawing and playing soccer.

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Jessica Rekos, 6

CNN reports that Jessica Rekos loved everything about horses — from horse movies and books to drawing and writing stories about them. This year she reportedly asked Santa for a new cowgirl hat and boots; her family had also promised that she could get her own horse when she turned 10. “We called her our little CEO for the way she carefully thought out and planned everything,” said her family in a statement. “We cannot imagine our life without her.”

Facebook / Handout / Reuters

Avielle Richman, 6

Six-year-old Avielle Richman had moved to Newtown, Conn., from Southern California a few years ago, LA Weeklyreports. Her parents maintained a blog, called Avielle’s Adventures, where they posted about the young girl’s activities and milestones. An Oct. 19 post reads, “Today is Avielle’s sixth birthday. I know that every parent says this, but holy cow I can’t believe how fast time flies!” In June, they posted a picture of Avielle’s kindergarten diploma and began documenting Avielle’s foray into horseback riding.

Lauren Rousseau, 30

Courtesy of Rousseau Family / AP

Lauren Rousseau, 30 years old, learned the rough life of a substitute teacher the hard way. At Sandy Hook Elementary School, she was a permanent sub — a low-paying job without benefits — but it was a job she loved. Rousseau grew up in Danbury, Conn., and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport, but her dreams of full-time teaching were hampered by the struggling economy. The Sandy Hook job wasn’t perfect, but it was enough for her to celebrate, her father stated. “Oh, she called so excited, she was just on cloud nine,” recalled her father Gilles Rousseau, a photographer from Southbury, Conn. “She had such big plans. She would just go on and on about the kids.” The icing on the cake was that Dawn Hochsprung, the school principal who died trying to stop the gunman, was a family friend — Hochsprung’s husband George had been Rousseau’s teacher. Rousseau worked a second job at Starbucks and lived with her mother to help make ends meet. In her spare time, she loved her cat and Broadway shows; she and her boyfriend enjoyed going to parties and Yankees games together and had discussed marriage. Near its end, Rousseau’s life took another happy turn — Sandy Hook hired her full time last month. “I’ll take some comfort that the last year of her life was her happiest,” her mother Teresa said on Saturday. It was her dream job, the Washington Post reported. “She was still a little girl at 30,” her father has stated. “She loved little kids. She was in their zone.”

Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist

Mark Sherlach / AP

Mary Sherlach had been employed at Sandy Hook Elementary since 1994. She and her husband of 31 years have two adult daughters. Sherlach’s neighbor Cathy Lucas described her as a “lovely, lovely woman.” Sherlach formerly worked as a school psychologist in Redding, North Haven and New Haven, Conn., public schools. Her hobbies included gardening, theater and reading.

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Victoria Soto, 27

Victoria Soto, a 27-year-old teacher, hid her first-grade students from the shooter and died while trying to protect them. Known to friends and family as Vicki, Soto has been described as a passionate, dedicated teacher, who acted on her instincts. Her cousin Jim Wiltsie told ABC News, “It brings peace to know that Vicki was doing what she loved, protecting the children. And in our eyes, she is a hero.”

Benjamin Wheeler, 6

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Fate has a cruel sense of irony, a fact all too evident in 6-year-old Benjamin’s case. His parents moved him and his 9-year-old brother Nate to Newtown, Conn., from New York City in April 2011 so they could grow up in a quiet community. His father David works in the film-and-television industry, and mother is a music teacher and performer, but they believed the move was the right choice for their spirited, closely bonded sons. “Music can happen anywhere,” his mother Francine Wheeler told the Newtown Bee in an interview. “We knew we wanted a piece of lawn, somewhere quiet, somewhere with good schools.” Ben thrived in his suburban settings, following his dad around the yard, helping him with chores by handing him tools, playing soccer, listening to the Beatles, participating as a Tiger Cub Scout, taking swimming lessons and performing in a piano recital, all with the highest octane of energy.

His parents described him in a statement as an “irrepressibly bright and spirited boy whose love of fun and excitement at the wonders of life and the world could rarely be contained,” and went on to say that “his rush to experience life was headlong, creative and immediate.”

“There’s always some brave individual who goes up to the dance floor to get everybody involved,” said Rabbi Shaul Praver of Newtown’s Adath Israel synagogue. “That was Ben Wheeler.” This year, Ben had attended the temple’s Hanukkah celebration with his parents. “Just delightful people,” Praver added.

Allison Wyatt, 6

Allison Wyatt’s family has remained, understandably, reticent since the 6-year-old’s untimely death on Friday. Allison has an obituary page set up on legacy.com with only a brief sentence saying she was killed, but many have offered condolences to a child they never knew. Those that did know her remember her as a quiet and loving little girl.

“She was a very shy girl, she was quiet and kept to herself, but she would smile at things. If a kid did something funny, she’d be laughing,” day-care teacher Kate Capellaro of All for Kids in Ridgefield, Conn., told the Press-Telegram. Capellaro said Allison, who went to the center occasionally, the last time being over the summer, was well behaved, but sometimes cried when her mother left. The Wyatts’ next-door neighbor described Allison to the Connecticut Post as a “very nice person” who enjoyed gardening with her mother and was always outside in the summer.

The whole thing is a HOAX.... There is proof all over the internet that this event was a staged by the Greenberg - Sexton - Bloomberg Family. You people who are buying into this whole thing need to WAKE UP and do some research. I can't beleive the Media keeps referencing the event as if it really happened. Obama and all the corrupt politicians too. There is so much undeniable proof, it is rediculous. DO THE RESEARCH PEOPLE and STOP BELEIVING EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOLD.... Have you even looked into one bit of the TRUTH? Man, when you wake up you will feel so stupid for beleiving this stuff. I did. Half of the victims belong to the greenberg family and didn't even die. ITS A LIE

I feel sorry for these kids. They didn't deserve to go like that. All of them were shot multiple times. This seem to suggest vengeance. Perhaps society needs to look more seriously at bullying and what mental injury it could inflict on the bullied. Those who discount the seriousness of this form of mental torture do so at their own peril. What goes around comes around.

I aqm from across the pond and have just read about the reccopmendations af the NRA. As a person that enjoys life and feels the lives of all people are sacrasant I think that the NRA should be held responsible for any and all deaths by firearms in the USA. Their mindless thinking that armed guards would have prevented the atrocity is just a way of saying "Put more death before death" not to clear the problem. There is no reason on this Earth for a person to carry a firearm except to get food for his family. In my mind the NRA a just a bunch of CHAUVANIST pigs who feel they are only men when they have a firearm in their hand. When the next killing takes places let them be at the funeral of the young victim and say that they still feel the second amendmant is correct. They should if they do say that, burn in hall and never see redemtion. May the poor sould of the victims of Sandy Hook rest in peace. May our good Lord look over them. Amen

It just brings me to tears when i see these little faces as well as the hero adults who acted in selfless heroism to protect as best they could in this tragety. I Pray for all the survivors that God himself will use this evil act in this evil world of ours as the end days aproch closer and closer that this will bring many to the Cross and comfort, heal and bring salvation that only comes thru Jesus Christ alone for our eternal benifit of life everlasting. All the signs are there in The most amazing book ever, Gods instruction manual for those who chose to pick it up, Jesus comfort the broken hearted . As a parent i feel some of that pain for the survivors. Lets all pull together and Vote the way we want our country ran, put Jesus back in schools or the tragetys will probably only continue. Look at history. Jesus

From the year 1900 to the year 2000 government have killed 260 million of their own citizens, not in wars but by the murder of their own citizens. The name given for this is democide. Then, during the same time governments killed another 200 million in wars for a grand total of 460 million souls. This does not even consider the placing of living people in cement coffins with metal bars for minor drug offenses. When Clinton embargoed Iraq, 500,000 Iraqi children dies slow painful deaths for lack of penicillin. Americans did not use one neuron considering the monstrosity of this act. But, now the government wants us to trust it and disarm as it has allowed banks to pillage our wealth and has allowed the military-industrial complex to grab any remaining wealth. We now live under absolute tyranny in which the president can assassinate Americans with no oversight, habeus corpus has been destroyed and the FBI and CIA now torture and murder with absolute impugnity. I say the lives of 20 children are a small cost to pay for citizens being able to arm themselves against government. The fact is the US is far along the path towards fascism. We bemoan the death of 20 US children while Obama wipes out twice that many children in a drone strike. Did the ATF implement any new rules when it killed Vicki Weaver and her son? Did the government implement any reform when it slaughtered dozens of women and children at Waco? It was government crime through the FBI's Operation Patriot Conspiracy that allowed McVeigh and others to take down the Murrah Building and kill dozens more as the FBI helped supply him with his bomb components in an operation they lost track of during their Elohim City infiltration. So, do not be sheeple. We live under a two-tiered justice system in which they hold people under ruin for false Disorderly Conduct charges, while in the meantime they steal, commit fraud, torture and murder, lies the nation into false wars and support terrorist groups and governments while violating every stricture on international law. When people like Bradly Manning expose elitist crimes, they respond by demanding assassination. It is the enemies of the Constitution who should be assassinated. I humbly ask that all Americans review the Facebook page "Jews Against Zionism and War with Iran" and discover where the real crimes occur that affect millions as opposed to the 20 kids killed at Sandy Hook. And please don't bother trying to attack me until you address the crimes committed by our government that has killed millions.

All our thoughts and deepest condolences to the families ..This is terrible and brings back the nightmares of when it happened many years ago in my country Scotland. @zynkin will support the fight to help change the laws that allow this to happen

My heart shattered on Friday, 12/14/12… TWENTY tiny, unlived lives were taken at the hands of an unstable lunatic whose name I’ve refused to learn. SEVEN courageous adults won’t ring in the new year with their families because they tried to protect children they dedicated their lives to. That’s. Not. Okay.If you agree that SOMETHING must be done (even if my ideas are NOT the answer), PLEASE comment on the blog post itself, share this message, do whatever you think will work to get it as much traffic and attention as possible!http://jenw1n525.blogspot.com/2012/12/something-must-be-done.html

I have so much pain inside my it is something that I cannot help, crying is not going to return to these 20 little people, their homes and 6 more, is a pain grade so that I can not explain it, and I have to cry I consider each of these 26 family who are going through this pain so great, my heart will feel as if they grittedGod of him his eternal rest Amen

This tragedy made me verysad. I like to solace their parents from my heart and I like so to plant 26evergreen trees for the memorial of these angels and their teachers.I prey to GOD help me for doing this.

It is a sad thing but the saturation of news concentration on this is almost as strong as the last presidential election.. its rough on soft hearted people. and past time that it was the bleeding lead on every news program on tv from social media fluff pieces to the hard news on Gun control.. and every other angle you can put it.. this much coverage is near to the point of news driven information fatigue or for lack of a better word OVERKILL by media to the point that people become immune to the facts you can only get so hot till you notice no difference in the pain level.. this has been rehashed so often and so strongly that anyone that has the ability to receive news KNOWS it if they want to and even if they don't have a care in the world they know. Please find some pleasant news to relieve pressure of that hard content.

Sandy Hook massacre is not the first one in USA. But authorities are silent. After a month this will be forgotten. After the next massacre customary rituals will take place. Let us mourn for all such massacres and learn lessons.I live in Palestine. Kids here die like flies. Who cares.Children are the same all over the world.

Excuse me for being so blunt but you folks that are arguing about weapons and guns and all that .... conspiracy etc... you need to be high fived in the face with a sledge hammer. 20 lives, okay 20 little innocent lives were stolen, STOP TWISTING THAT. If you take away the guns that won't make it safe. You want our schools safe? Hire Veterans, do it. At your next PTO meeting tell them to get 6 Veterans battle hardened, a few with experiences of fire watch and a few with experience for paper pushing. Tell your schools to arm these Veterans with those "forboading" weapons you so grieviously hate, and put them to work. They were good enough to protect our Rights and Freedoms, why not our precious children. If you are worried about their "PTSD" or shell shock, then hire a Veteran Counselor that cares as well. You want this to stop? then do what we always do, put our most precious of treasures in the hands of Veterans, I guarentee you there will be no more school massacures, imagine if you will someone barging into a school and is met face to face with a very angry Vietnam Veteran that just had his perimeter breached.......... The kids would be fine, not so sure about the gunman, even if the Veteran is only armed with a baton and his trusty k-bar. Also, Veterans are known to LOVE children more than they love adults..... think about it. I'm recommending at our next PTA/PTO meeting to hire Veterans at our school..... My kids are 5 and 7 and in kindegarten and first grade. I have reached the point of THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

@RobertaPrecious-RobocopMartin I am a US Marine and I served from '78 to '81 during peacetime and I wholeheartedly agree with you on establishing a post within the school systems across our country to protect our "Blossoming Flowers"....so incredibly sad that we lost 20 children so senselessly that measures truly need to be taken. I also believe that the NRA should be totally disbanded and I guarantee you things will change especially politically. I'm from New Haven, CT and lost 2 great-nephews to gun violence on our streets; but the Sandy Hook tragedy has totally devastated me. I have over 120 nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews and great-great nieces/nephews and I truly feel as though I've lost 20 of my great-great nieces and nephews things really need to change or there will be no future for our children.

@cwbaines@RobertaPrecious-RobocopMartin Well if there are any school teachers/admins, Veterans and civilians that really believe in the cause of protecting our children in the hands of Veterans I encourage them to go to my page I created on Facebook called "Gracie's Protection" it is named after a 10 yr old that believes fully if she had a Veteran protecting her school her and her classmates could learn in peace and nothing would ever harm them. Plus she said she has never had her own Veteran to hug, so if she could have Veterans at her school she'd hug them everyday. My children feel the same cept they have hugged tons of Veterans, I just feel it's time to push back. These criminals aren't going to learn until they are taught, and who better to teach them about the value of life than a Veteran. Serious, go check out Gracie's Protection it is ran by myself, my fiancee (Marine Scout Sniper Veteran) and our friend who is a mother and a school teacher). We need teachers and schools to get down with this I see an overwhelming force of Veterans on the page as well as civilian parents. So definately invite everyone. Including the kids at a later date so their voices can be heard.